Saturday 13 October 2018 17:22, UK
Trent Alexander-Arnold believes Joe Gomez is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and has described him as "a mini Virgil van Dijk".
Gomez has impressed for Liverpool this season after missing out on the Champions League final and England's World Cup campaign with an ankle injury.
He has played in 10 of Liverpool's 11 games this season and helped Jurgen Klopp's side establish themselves in the top four of the Premier League.
The 21-year-old has mainly been deployed at centre-back alongside Van Dijk and his contributions have not got gone unnoticed by Alexander-Arnold.
"He [Gomez] is showing this season he is a top player," Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool's official website.
"At a young age, he's one of the best in his position in the league. That takes some doing, so that's credit to him especially with the setbacks he has had.
"He has an immense hunger and drive to keep succeeding, going forward and getting better. You see that every day in training with the way he applies himself.
"The relationship he has forged with Virgil has really helped him. He probably looks up to Virgil as a bit of a role model. It's like he's a mini Virgil at times!"
Gomez's form has helped Liverpool to the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League this season, with Jurgen Klopp's side conceding three times in eight matches.
"There's probably a bit more of a difference from last season in terms of how we're defensively organised," Alexander-Arnold added.
"We're not conceding as many goals and we're still getting results, sometimes grinding them out.
"A win is a win at the end of the day and we've shown this year we can win in different ways."
Alexander-Arnold also singled out Alisson, who became the world's most expensive goalkeeper in the summer - before Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga, as another reason why Liverpool have made such a strong start to the season.
"The messages the manager gives us and the way we defend as a team is front-footed," he said.
"We don't want to concede too many chances and we haven't so far this season, but when the 'keeper has been called upon, Alisson has made some world-class saves and shown he is a world-class 'keeper."
